Remineralization efficacy of nonfluoride versus herbal-based pediatric dentifrice in demineralized primary teeth

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent posteruptive bacterial infections worldwide, characterized by a progressive demineralization process that affects the mineralized dental tissues. Although the decline of dental caries prevalence can be attributed to the widespread use of dentifrices that contain fluoride, yet there is a need for an advanced alternative nonfluoride remineralizing dentifrice. Yet, there is a need for an advanced alternative nonfluoride remineralizing dentifrice. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the remineralizing effect of nonfluoride-based and herbal-based pediatric dentifrice in demineralized primary teeth with an ideal in vitro method of pH cycling and evaluating the values under Polarized Light Microscope (Olympus BX43) using image analysis software (ProgRes, Speed XT core3). Materials and Methods: A total of 30 tooth samples were collected and placed in the demineralizing solution for 96 h to produce a demineralized lesion of approximately 100 μm, and then cut longitudinally into 60 sections that were randomly assigned to two groups with 27 samples each, Group A – nonfluoride-based dentifrice (Mee Mee®), Group B – herbal-based dentifrice (Mamaearth™), after which they were subjected to pH cycling for 7 days along with dentifrice slurry preparation. The sections were evaluated under the polarizing light microscopy for remineralizing efficacy. The lesion depth was measured and tabulated to be sent for statistical analysis. Results: The mean demineralization value for nonfluoride and herbal-based dentifrice groups were 7.8730 μm and 28.3174 μm, respectively. Hence, it can be inferred that since lesion depth measured was lesser in nonfluoride than herbal-based dentifrice, remineralization has occurred in the nonfluoride-based dentifrice group. Conclusion: Nonfluoride-based dentifrice showed significant results in remineralizing the demineralized lesion, while herbal-based dentifrice showed poor efficiency in remineralizing the demineralized lesion.